You Belong Here: Our First Dinner Party

Photos by Tess Cagle Photography

On April 21, we hosted our first rendition of our newest series, The Dinner Party.

Behind this series

The Dinner Party is an intimate gathering series partially inspired by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. The original art installation is ceremonial banquet consisting of a triangular table with a total of thirty-nine place settings, each commemorating an important woman who has been excluded from history. 

Playing on Judy Chicago's concepts of rewriting history, our Dinner Party is simply a meal for the creatives, entrepreneurs and organizers working within our programs—a space to intimately share our stories, break bread, unwind and reflect on professional and personal achievements.

About the first rendition

When we agreed to collaborate with Fusebox Festival and Exploded Drawing for an electronic music showcase (which would bring in talent from all over the United States), it only made sense to give The Dinner Party a shot. We wanted to intentionally introduce these out-of-town artists to one another, while also creating room for them to meet some of the artists in our immediate community—so that's exactly what we did.

On April 21, prior to the show, we hosted 40 artists for dinner. With wine by local maker Rae Wilson and food by Deepa Shridhar, we shared our stories and spent time getting to know one another.

Beyond connection, these dinners serve as a time to learn. After dinner, guests were prompted to answer the following questions.

Here were some of their responses:

What do you believe your art is communicating to the world?

• Permission to exist and be goofy and free. We spent enough time nurturing and worrying and working for others.i want my work to let you escape and just be.

• Belonging and magic in the everyday, old school myths in the familiarity of flyness.
• Powerful play in compassionate spaces...that’s my shit
• That I have the power and agency to change something old into something new and uniquely me
• Que somos Xingonas
• Music is love, happiness - a way to enjoy life w/o the strife. Xo

What are three ways you can support the work of the women in this room?

• Professional development, connecting people, workshops, advocate for self-care...
• Listen to each other, share each other’s worth, reflect the light and talk to each women

• Genuinely wish the best for them in, support with our dollar when possible, let others know how dope they are

• Attend each others events, share/connect with them, with their own resources encourage one another verbally with positivity and how their art is making a difference

• Advocate, listen, show up—put in the work and put out the vibes you wish to receive back

Our next Dinner Party will be hosted at BABES FEST on Sept. 2, 2018. Details to be released soon. Thank you to all who joined us.

URL IRL Resident Artist: Kwanzaa Edwards

Kwanzaa Edwards is a mixed media artist and occupied our URL IRL residency in March and April 2018. For her residency, Edwards help created the community mural for our "International Women's Day Yellow Hour" which was later debuted at the 2018 Spring craftHER Market. Below she discusses her personal influences and her process.

How would you describe your creative practice? Do you have any rituals or particular styles that you find inherent to your work?

A ritual I have is that before I start to work on a piece is that I have to get myself into a state of focus. I'm easily distracted when I have chores or other worries going on. Once I'm focused, I can really enjoy the making process. As for styles, I have a few motifs that I rotate through from piece to piece. It always keeps me interested in what I'm painting and adds consistency to my work.

What motivates you to pursue painting and mixed media, in particular?

Painting was one of the few mediums I really connected with growing up. The action of just pushing paint around is very soothing and keeps me in a calm mood. I am a firm believer that everyone should do something that makes you happy (as long as it's not harmful to your self and others), and painting gives me that happiness.  

How do you approach a new piece?

My approach varies from painting to painting. If there is a concept that I really want to hit home I'll plan though sketches or writing. Sometimes I'll just be flipping through my sketchbook and I'll find something from maybe months ago and just go with it. A few of my best works have been just me playing by ear and doing what feels right.  

Who/what influences your work?

My artistic influences are Audrey Kawasaki, James Jean, and Happy D, to name a few. I have tons more but these particular three are a continuous source of inspiration. Personal influences are a lot of the women in my family and my circle of female friends. I don't mention it often but the personalities of the ladies in my work are loosely based off of their personality types.

Your work incorporates themes of Afrofuturism themes. Could you expand on that?

To be honest, I've only recently made the comparison of my work to Afrofuturism.  For a long time I didn't even know that was what it was called. (Thanks, Internet!) I love the idea of combining African culture with technology and surrealist concepts because it's something that's not seen often enough in art, literature and pop-culture. I guess my draw to it comes from not feeling like you fit in anywhere in terms of what you like. The attraction to combining pop-surrealism elements with black culture creates that world I want to belong in.

Kwanzaa Edwards in front of the craftHER Market Spring '18 community mural. Photo by 1778 Photographie

Progress shots of Kwanzaa Edwards' mural, courtesy of the artist.

Progress shots of Kwanzaa Edwards' mural, courtesy of the artist.

Tell us a bit about your experience painting the craftHER Market piece. It was a new thing for all of us!

It was so awesome! This was a first for me, so going into it was a bit daunting at first. I questioned every decision I made and had to do quite a bit of problem solving. I had issues even choosing the right paint. (Thank you to the guy at Lowe's for being so patient with me!)  I was so nervous up until the night I brought the canvas to the Women's Day event. Seeing the enthusiasm of the people painting with me made all the stress worth it. This was my largest piece to date, and it has motivated me to try more large pieces in the future.

When working, do you find yourself working in silence or with noise in the background? If noise, what kind of noise?

I prefer silence while listening to music or have something playing on Hulu—usually a sitcom I've watched a bunch of times or some mellow beats playlist on Spotify.  This has somewhat turned me into a night owl. Living with two roommates who are noisy gamers is really distracting even with headphones on.

Why do you find art important? Expression? Problem-solving? Tell us!

I think its vital for so many people. Finding an art piece that captures you is a great feeling. The best thing about art is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.  Don't like thinking? Just push paint around on a canvas. Want to create something hyper-realistic? Learn proportions and value. It's so available and can literally be anything.

Keep up with Kwanzaa Edwards on Instagram.

Four Electronic Music Producers On Craft, Career-Building And Maintaining Muses

This weekend, we're gearing up to produce a collaborative showcase with our friends at Fusebox Festival for a special edition of Exploded Drawing. Together, we're hosting six award-winning electronic music producers under one warehouse roof on Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 PM to 2 AM.

The show is free, all ages and a reflection of a four-month-long collaboration between three like-minded organizations, invested in the arts and community, with sets by Anna Wise, Linafornia, vhvl, Dot, SassyBlack and FreshtillDef, plus next-level visuals and art installations.

To celebrate, we've got four interviews, featuring Dot, SassyBlack, vhvl and FreshtillDef. Each artist walks us through their week, their process and the creative muses that keep them inspired and hungry. Read up below.

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DOT

Whether providing cutting edge beats as part of LA beat collective Team Supreme, or fulfilling her role as founder of her own female focused music label Unspeakable Records, DOT is a champion for the often unsung female producer. Her music has been praised by the best in tastemaker media, including features in Pitchfork, LA Weekly, Okayfuture, MTV Brazil, C-Heads Magazine, Nest HQ, Rookie, LA Record, The 405, and more. Born and raised in Olympia, WA, Dot’s upbringing in the Pacific Northwest and background in classical music had a profound impact on her current aesthetics and influences. She moved to Southern California at the age of 17 to study classical music at the Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, which quickly led to her immersion in the LA beat scene and signing to Alpha Pup Records. Dot debuted her first live set at Low End Theory, the infamous hip-hop/electronic night at The Airliner in Los Angeles. She continues to tour regularly as a live performer, gracing the stages of world-famous venues including The El Rey Theater (LA) The Echoplex (LA), The Observatory OC, Output (New York), and Home Club (Singapore). When she’s not traveling, Dot holds down a DJ residency at the Ace Hotel Los Angeles. In addition to her solo work, Dot produces for artists including SZA (TDE) and Teri GenderBender (Le Butcherettes, Bosnian Rainbows), and writes original music for film and television (MTV and OWN).

1.) How would you define your creative practice and approach to making music?

I do my best to simply listen and write what I hear. The less ego involved, the better.

2. What's your ideal environment for creation?

I like to get away from big cities and be out in nature as much as possible. Going to shows and meeting people in busy cultural centers is endlessly inspiring for me, but I prefer a small cabin out in the middle of nowhere to process all of my experiences.

3. Walk us through your weekly play-by-play. Who are you working with, where are you going? What guides your professional tempo?

My weeks are varied depending on the number of projects I have in the air at any given time, but the usual flow of my day begins with meditation, followed by two to three hours of reading or theory study before launching into “work,” which consists of music practice, writing, producing music for myself or other artists, label administration, rehearsals, mixing/mastering, travel for shows, or any number of other responsibilities that come with managing your own career and a collective of other artists. I’m also an artist “coach” for a select number of producers and songwriters, and I meet with each of them two times per week to guide them through the process of creating and releasing a record.

Obsession with music guides my tempo. If I’m passionate about a project, then I usually have little trouble with finding the necessary time and energy to complete it no matter how much I have on my plate. Excuses cease to exist and I feel like my bandwidth is unlimited. However, if I take on work solely for the money or some other ego-based reason, then it usually becomes exhausting and I start hitting walls and burning out. 

4. What currently inspires you (could be people, places, things, Instagram accounts—you name it)?

I love reading and try to finish one to two books per week. Currently digging into ‘Synchronicity' by Carl Jung, ‘The White Album’ by Joan Didion, and a few books by Marianne Williamson. I also recently read ‘Paths to God’ by Ram Dass, and the Miles Davis autobiography, both of which I highly recommend to anyone who makes art it some form or another.

5. Any music/artists you're listening to that we should check out?

I’ve been getting into the new Chris Dave and The Drumhedz record. And anything Anna Wise/Sonnymoon does is pure magic. I keep my current rotations updated here.

SassyBlack

 

SassyBlack is a jazz vocalist & producer based in Seattle, WA. This Goddess of “electronic psychedelic soul” & “hologram funk” explores sound through deep compositions. With roots in classical & jazz, her voice is comparable to Ella Fitzgerald & Sarah Vaughan while her production value is reminiscent of Roy Ayers, Pharrell & Herbie Hancock. Black has traveled the world having performed in Berlin, Barcelona, New Orleans, Milan, London, Brooklyn & beyond. Sassy has gained praise from The Fader, NYLON, Pitchfork, Noisey, Saint Heron, SPIN & many others. She successfully released her sophomore album New Black Swing June 23rd and is recently returned from touring North America & Europe in Autumn 2017. She will be releasing new music every month in 2018.

1.) How would you define your creative practice and approach to making music?

When creating music, I seek healing and some sort of communication. I am looking to release something that is wishing to leave my being or extend my being. I’m not sure how to define it event after 15 years of doing it because it always changes but the core of it is to heal myself.

2.) Walk us through your weekly play-by-play. Who are you working with, where are you going? What guides your professional tempo?

I am working with myself and my many personalities and spirit. I work with my guy and my intuition and we dance and play together. Typically begins with a drum pattern or something I’m humming. I use Ableton to build up the idea and sometimes being with my TASCAM app on my phone to capture the first though. My tempo is guided by gut more often than not these days and less and less by deadline. Unless I am working on an album or a project. If that is the case, I allow my creativity to flow within the confines of deadlines to create a different kind of special piece.

3.) What do you look for in creative collaborators?

Currently I seek safe collaborators that aren’t toxic. People who are secure or working to be secure in themselves and allow me space to be myself. Also people who respect my artistry and creative process and vice versa.

4. What are you looking forward to? In your own career? Or perhaps in the industry, at large?

I look forward to working with artists that I admire that hold a kind energy towards me. I also look forward to traveling more and producing more music for other artists. And scoring films, I would really like to do that.

5. When did music shift from a hobby to a profession for you? What did that shift look like?

I started taking music seriously at age 14 when I selected my High School based on its choir program. Music became my profession when I was 18 and I started performing in a band that came to me and asked me to sing. My voice always had value to me, but I knew my voice had financial value at that point. 8. 

FreshtillDef

 

FreshtillDef lives in San Antonio, Texas and produces via her own imprint FreshMoon. Well known for destroying dance floors all across Texas since the early rave days till present as well as holding it down in production with past aliases in DnB, Trip-Hop & Experimental Music.

1.) How would you define your creative practice and approach to making music? 

I sit down smoke some weed, drink some caffeine, open Logic and start gathering ideas. Usually I will open Omnisphere and start going through sounds and playing melodies until something sparks and I run with it.

2. Walk us through your weekly play-by-play. Who are you working with, where are you going? What guides your professional tempo? 

As of right now I have a collaboration with Cesrv called Machina that will be dropping on my label, Freshmoon Records, at the end of this month! I'm mostly staying in the studio and focusing on writing new music. 160 to 175 BPM guides my professional tempo. ;)

3. What currently inspires you?  

First of all my husband, Tony Mundaca. My family, friends, being healthy and being happy!

4.) Any music/artists you're listening to that we should check out? 

Definitely J. Mundaca, MoonDoctoR and Dj Earl.

5.) What do you want to see more of in the music industry?  

More equality, respect and empowerment for women!

vhvl

vhvl is the recording alias of Harlem-based beatmaker Veronica Lauren. Her tracks burst with bright, chiming melodies, and her heavily thumping beats ensure that her brand of instrumental hip-hop is atmospheric but not lightweight. She debuted in 2013 with a self-released digital album titled Myrrh. Her 15-minute track “Fvrfew” took up the entire B-side of Seat of the Soul, a split cassette with Ras Greleased by Leaving Records in 2014. While working on her next release, Lauren suffered from a spine injury, and was bedridden or wheelchair-bound for much of 2015 and 2016. After regaining the ability to walk in June, Leaving Records released her EVN EP in August of 2016.

1. How would you define your creative practice and approach to making music?

Everything I make is steeped in emotion, and I cannot create if I believe the work might be devoid of it. So, when I sit down to work, I call upon instances and occurrences which trigger emotional responses—the work grows from that.

2. Walk us through your weekly play-by-play. Who are you working with, where are you going? What guides your professional tempo?

I can’t say I’m a collaborative artist anymore—I don’t work with anyone, and am not currently working with anyone. I live in Brooklyn with my partner, I have a very normal day-to-day life: I work a day job, I have a ferocious kitten I care for (he’s a rescue), and that’s it. I have a very slow professional pace when it comes to music because my process is extremely toxic. My aforementioned manner of making music requires dark memorable experiences, and those create the tones which dictate my sound.

3.) What currently inspires you (could be people, places, things, Instagram accounts—you name it)?

Just life in general, and that might sound like a lazy response, but I don’t draw from people, places, or things outside of myself. I like to create within my own personal eco-system—I don’t like to be influenced. I rarely listen to music, if I intend to make any either, and that’s a serious rule I adhere to.

4.) When did music shift from a hobby to a profession for you? What did that shift look like?

I didn’t notice, it might’ve just happened—it was out of my hands. I was led one way, and I continued that way. I’ve been led many ways since, and I’m sure I’m viewed more as a hobbyist than a serious artist.

5. Any music/artists you're listening to that we should check out?

The group I listen to the most is Sales.

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Are you based in Austin and want to catch these artists in-person? Don't miss our showcase on Saturday, April 21 with Fusebox Festival and Exploded Drawing. It's free, open to the public and all ages.

Our Largest Market Yet: A CraftHER Spring '18 Recap

Photo by 1778 Photographie

At #bossbabesATX, we're inspired by the magic that happens when people meet. And all of our productions are centered around supporting and sustaining visibility around women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and organizers. craftHER Market is no different. It's been inspired by a few of our favorite things: pop-up spaces, traditional marketplaces and the people who organize others to gather.

From 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday, April 15, we hosted our fourth installment of craftHER Market. 3300+ attendees filled the space to #supportwomenartists and #supportwomeninbusiness.

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THE VIBE

This year, we hosted 125 booths, including 105 Texan makers, 10 Austin-local community groups and 10 food and beverage vendors. Attendees were greeted with an installment of greenery and illustrative interpretations of our makers, courtesy of Spring '18's badass illustrator Kelsey Kilcrease. On top of the pop-up marketplace, we produced five panels, curated by members of our programming committee, spanning topics of entrepreneurialism, maker culture, representation, mental health and community-building. Through this year's raffle, we also fundraised more than $650 for DACA application renewals (learn more about this project here.)

Already missing the market? Recapture some of the day's energy by listening to DJ Ella Ella's craftHER Market playlist. We played this all day!

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Photo by 1778 Photographie

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THE PANELS

featuring five discussions between local community members and the #bbatx committee, emceed by Leslie Lozano

This spring, our craftHER panels explored mental health, negotiation, continued skill-building, representation for women of color in entrepreneurship and building an honest brand. Curated by five of our committee members (Nina Rose Bailey, Nina Berenato, Leslie Lozano, Keisha Gillis and Jasmine Robinson), each panel was an intentional and candid conversation. With stage design by Party at the Moontower, the backdrop for these discussions featured a commissioned piece by artist Kwanzaa Edwards.

We'd like to thank this spring's stage partners, Volusion, for making these panels possible!

View fullsize

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Photo by 1778 Photographie

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THIS MARKET'S PRODUCERS AND PARTNERS

#bbatx is an online and offline space for women-identifying and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and community organizers. Through our event series, showcases, strategic collaborations and professional development programs, we provide a platform of visibility, outreach and financial opportunity to 900+ emerging Texas-based artists, businesses and causes and educational opportunities to more than 15,000 community members. We were named "Best Bossy Babes" of 2015 by The Austin Chronicle and were selected by The White House to attend the United State of Women Summit in June 2016.

This production has been made possible in part by 2018 presenting partners Resplendent Hospitality, supportive collaborators at Fair Market, Volusion and MYEVENTISTHEBOMB, as well as our community press partners Austin Woman Magazine.

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Want to get involved in the next craftHER Market? Sign up for email updates at the bottom of crafthermarket.com and stay tuned for Fall '18 applications (they'll reopen in July '18!).

URL Resident Artist: Alie Jackson

Alie Jackson is a mixed media artist, designer, and current #bbatx resident artist. For her spring residency, Jackson created an interactive, augmented reality installation to be displayed at our inaugural Power to the People set at Native Hostel. Below she discusses her process, the various themes her work takes, and interacting with social media as an artist. 

How do you know you’re an artist? (Besides the obvious!)

I know I’m an artist because I can’t imagine myself as anything else.

You are both an artist and a designer. How do you differentiate those identities? How do you differentiate those styles?  

When designing for a client, I am creating something based on their identity. Design has taught me skills that are used in my own work but the way I approach the two is completely different.

What works were formative for you and/or continue to influence your work today?

I received my BFA and have a good foundation of Art History but I think overall life events and experiences influence my work the most. Living in Chicago was definitely one of those experiences. There are so many different art communities and small movements, it really broadened my perspective on what art could be. I actually didn’t make art for a while after living there because I re-evaluated everything I was doing at the time.

Tell us about your process.

There is an intuitive nature to the way I work. I try not to plan anything out and just see where the process takes me. When creating a body of work, I like to define the medium first and then explore different variations of color shape and subject matter. For example, when painting, I am often working on a few things at any given moment and switching between them randomly depending on the materials used and the mood I’m in.

What about your process specifically for our residency? What was the impetus to use social media as an access point for art? How did you conceive of this idea?

A combination of factors contributed to the way I approached this work. Since this is a mostly digital residency, I decided to use digital media as a tool to create it. The work shown at the Power to the People event was not in a traditional “fine art” setting so it posed unique obstacles. This presented the opportunity to use World Lens Studio, a free tool that I used to build an interactive installation that required little set up in the physical world.

What is the payoff in having viewers undergo an extra level of interaction with their smartphone in order to view and engage with the art?

Most people associate Augmented Reality with commercialized media so It was cool to take it out of that context and change people’s perspective. It was also interesting to me that everyone’s experiences were different because of the many variables involved when using your phone as a portal to view the work.

So much of being a creative these days is also about making sure that your work is seen. How have you approached the current art landscape on social media/the Internet? Are you appreciative of that outlet? Or how do you feel about it?

I’ve used social media as a tool to promote live events and reach out to people rather than a place to showcase my work. I will often share in-progress work and little glimpses of my creative process but I would rather people experience my work in the physical location that it’s intended to be seen.

When creating, do you consider how your art will be perceived through a digital lens (i.e. via Instagram, snaps, or photos)?

Yes and no. Specifically for the installation using Snapchat, I had to think about this because using an actual digital lens was how the art was viewed. For everything else I’ve done, it’s not really something I think about.

Though your art interfaces with digital spheres, it appears that you also use traditional mediums like paint, and photography. How do you decide when to move between the two? Are there different thought process behind each?

For the most part, it depends on my mood. I tend to do a lot of painting when work is stressful and busy. I try and avoid computer screens on nights and weekends and it’s almost therapeutic for me. There is a lot of crossover between digital and traditional. I use a lot of photography mixed in with painting on my mixed media work and then sometimes paint backdrops into photographic or video scenes.

How has your work evolved since your first began to the present? How do you foresee it evolving in the next few years? Are there any constant themes?

I used to create work with more technical precision and realism. As time has passed, I’ve been mixing more abstraction and learning new techniques and technology. I think this is how my work will continue to evolve.

Constant themes in my work involve fractured self portraiture, different forms of collage and the idea of formalism. The human body is so versatile and everyone connects with it in some way. I think the reason I use self portraiture a lot is out of convenience. If I feel like using an image of a hand I can just set up my camera on a tripod and take a photo of myself and it’s done.

View more of Alie Jackson's work at aliejackson.com. She is on Instagram as @shuttastunna. 

Finding Your Present: Spring Tarotscopes with Solaris the Hii Priestess

This post continues our seasonal tarotscope series with Solaris the Hii Priestess, one of our regular exhibiting artists and routine collaborators. Each season, Solaris draws cards for each astrological sign and interprets your forecast. (You can find Solaris at Space 24 Twenty on Guadalupe St. in the back tent from 4 to 8 PM every Tuesday .)

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Capricorn — The 6 of Cups
This a card of nostalgia, happy memories, platonic relationships and reunions with family or friends from the past. The element here is water which relates to love and emotions. The No. 6 in numerology stands for home, responsibility and family. For someone looking for love or a relationship with another person, this card would be a "no" to romance but a "yes" to true friendship instead. This card often appears when old friends meet up again or someone comes back from the past.

Aquarius — The Magician
This card combines all four elements in a single Ace. Its numerology is important, as this card is a card of power, as well as creativity. The Magician has the power to create something from nothing. The Magician also has the power to transform. Although the misuse of this card can corrupt, it can also point to channels for good use of this power. Whatever your situation is this spring, you have the ability to take control, create the new or change the existing into something better.

Pisces — The Empress
This card embodies femininity, fertility, beauty and romance. This is a woman of power. She is the Earth mother. This card can point to a pregnancy or the desire to be fertile and pregnant. She sits in fertile lands abundant with plants, flowers and fruits. This card represents all that you desire. She is often referenced to as Venus, Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. The appearance of The Empress can indicate plans, events that have not yet come to fruition but are growing and receiving, and/or needing nurture. As a person, The Empress points to a mother or mother figure.

Aries — The 9 of Wands
This card indicates the completion of projects, endings in the home and workplace. The element here is Fire which relates to passion, community, work and creativity. The aspects of the number 9 in numerology are endings, completion of cycles, charity and generosity.

Taurus — The Moon
This is the card of illusion, confusion, falseness, monthly cycles, imagination, intuition and the subconscious (dreams and nightmares). The light of The Moon is a false light, a reflected light, a light that is never the same from night to night. In the light of The Moon the world appears differently and our natural instinct is to fear the night and indicates a period of fertility and/or sexuality.

Gemini — 2 of Cups
In this card, a man and a woman stand facing, holding a cup towards each other. In some tarot decks, their arms may be crossed and they may also be drinking from the cups. This card is more commonly associated with a romantic relationship than a platonic one. This is a card of nostalgia. It may mean that you and your lover are in harmony, or you may be reunited with a friend or even a hobby that brings you comfort or a peace of mind. 

Cancer — The Ace of Cups
This card is traditionally represented as a single vessel filled with water. Its symbology is simple; it has the element of water and a numerological value of one. As a one, it represents a new beginning and—with water as the element—an emotional one. You may be in for an overwhelming time, dealing with emotions that you have been trying to avoid. But remember, crying is a cleansing ritual. This card also points toward a romantic relationship that needs some attention or towards healing yourself. Remember, Cancer, you are the element of water, and this means you should listen to your intuition and pay attention to your dreams. 

Leo — The 7 of Swords
This is a card of theft, greed, deceit and avoiding confrontation. The element here is Air, which relates to challenges, conflicts and the mental aspects of our lives, i.e. the storms on the path of life that we have to navigate through. In numerology a number has positive, negative and destructive influences. The negative aspects of the number 7 in numerology are hate, theft, cheating, confusion and lies. On the flip side, the positive aspects in numerology of the 7 are rest, introspection and thinking before making a final decision.

Virgo - The World
This is the card of completion, accomplishment, victory, travel and expansion. It's a happy card to find in any spread, as it is the final card of the major arcana and symbolizes the end of the journey of the fool. It represents the ultimate goal and reaching the pinnacle in your life. In numerology the World has the number 21 in the major arcana, so in numerology this is reduced to 3 (2+1). The number 3 is the number of joy in your life, freedom from worry, expression, imagination and sociability. 

Libra — The Star
This is the card of hope, renewal, direction, navigation and success. The Star can point to good things to come, especially toward the other cards surrounding it in a spread. The woman is naked in The Star and she pours  one container onto the land and the other into the sea. The water represents the subconscious mind and emotions and the land represents the material world. This symbolizes renewal and balance. In numerology, the Star also has the number 17 in the major arcana, which is reduced to 8 (1+7). The number 8 is the number of success, good fortune, wealth, power and control. 

Scorpio — The Page of Pentacles
This card could be indicate that you are a young person stubborn and/or reluctant to change. Pages also represent messengers who bring news. This news could be about money, promotions etc. The element here is Earth, so the message you receive this season will more likely be about money.

Sagittarius — The Ace of Swords
This card is traditionally represented as a single, upright sword, sometimes with its tip inside a crown or gold ring. As a one, it represents a new beginning and, with air as the element, this beginning has to do with new challenges or new ideas. This could be a contract, a business opportunity or a situation that needs to be dealt with. Be open to the new.

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A note from Solaris: Allow me Solaris The Hii Priestess, to give you a spiritual forecast for this upcoming week. My goal is to give you insight and awareness from the cards that I pull. As a tarot reader, my job is to make you aware and present of your current energy and to explore what is in your subconscious. I want to help you find closure and put you at ease if you are facing a tough decision. I am not a psychic—I consider myself a holistic counselor. 

Our Unofficial SXSW Guide For 2018: Events We Think You Should Definitely RSVP To

Typically, during SXSW, we throw a kick-ass unofficial showcase. This year, #bbatx is taking a little break outside of our annual, official Women in Creative Industries Meet-Up, but we've got you on some free recommendations. The following events are unofficial, subject to RSVP and unless indicated have not been produced by us (the large majority produced by Austin-based organizers). This list will be updated over the coming weeks, so feel free to bookmark it and check back.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

International Women's Day Yellow Hour (presented by #bbatx)

ATX Celebrates International Women's Day

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

The Deep End by Vox Media

Bumble Presents SXSW Empowering Connections

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

Official SXSW Wellness Expo

That's What She Said: The Female Voice in Film

Hustle House @ SXSW

Queer Filmmakers Brunch by AGLIFF
 

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

Pitch Black: The Future Is Female

Create & Cultivate Pop-Up Conference

Show Up Tumblr Party

Ladies Eat Free Presents: The Buffet (comedy and film screenings!)

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Women of Color in the Sustainability World: Creative Entrepreneur Mixer

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

SHE SHREDS 2018

Room 484: A HAAM Benefit

RAS Day Presents: SXSW 2018

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Sauvage Presents: A European Splash

SUAV Presents: Local Makers Pop-Up Lounge

South By San Jose

SXSW @ Waterloo Records

Pitchfork Radio @ SXSW

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Official SXSW Marketplace

con flama by Sharon Bridgforth

SMILF @ The Showtime House ft. Princess Nokia

Brooklyn Vegan x Margin Walker Presents Lost Weekend

Girls to the Front A Day Party

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Austin Monthly x Texas Music Magazine: Bands to Watch

Lesbian Divorce

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Frida Friday ATX Turns One

Curly Girl Picnic

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

Lesbian Wedding

She Talks: Art, Money and Mindset

Produced by #bossbabesATX, SHE TALKS* is an ongoing discussion-based personal and professional development series, tackling topics from finances to intersectional feminism.

On Feb. 27 at West Elm Austin, we interviewed three Austin-based creatives on their approach to creative work—how do they monetize their practice? Where do they find the time? What sorts of strategies and resources do they have to share?

In conversation with Jacqueline Gilles of the LINE ATX, Xochi Solis, Alie Jackson and Florinda Bryant shared their thoughts. Read on for insights.

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The Panel

Featuring three multihyphenate Austin-based artists, in conversation with the LINE ATX's Creative and Culture Manager, Jacqueline Gilles.

Meet our panelists below:

Alie Jackson (panelist)
An award-winning designer and animator, Alie Jackson has over 8 years design experience working with big brands, blockbuster movies, music festivals, non-profits, and small businesses. Past and previous clients Include: Marvel, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Amazon Studios, ABC, Disney, FX, Home Depot, Office Depot, GSK, Sears, Boss Babes ATX, Juice Land, Texas Laser and Aesthetics, Sound on Sound Festival, Fun Fun Fun Festival, Margin Walker Presents, Transmission Events and more.

Xochi Solis (panelist and #bbatx committee member)
Xochi is an Austin, TX based artist sharing her studio time between Texas and Mexico. Her works include multilayered, collaged paintings constructed of paint, hand-dyed paper, vinyl, plastics, and images from found books and magazines. Solis considers the repeated act of layering in her work a meditation on color, texture, and shape, all leading to a greater awareness of the visual intricacies found in her immediate environment. She received her B.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of Texas in 2005. Recent exhibitions include: Mi Tierra: Contemporary Artists Explore Place, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO (2017); We must build as if the sand were stone, South Texas College Library Gallery, McAllen, TX (2016); Rivers of our Vision, Lawndale Art Center in Houston, TX (2013); Summer Invitational, Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York City, NY; Flatlander, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO (2015); New Art in Austin: 20 to Watch, Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX (2008); and currently Shaped by Subtraction, BOX 13 Artspace in Houston, TX (2017). In 2016, Solis held a residency at Pele Prints in St. Louis, MO and in 2013 was a resident artist at Arquetopia in Oaxaca, MX learning to work with natural pigments. Solis is one of 30 artists featured in the book Collage: Contemporary Artists Hunt and Gather, Cut and Paste, Mash Up and Transform (Chronicle Books, 2014). In addition to her studio practice, she manages and spins records with the Austin chapter of Chulita Vinyl Club.

Florinda Bryant (panelist)
Florinda Bryant is an Austin, TX-based interdisciplinary artist and arts educator. Florinda is a Co-Producing Artistic Director of Salvage Vanguard Theater. As a performer and director she is no stranger to many stages in Austin, having worked with the Rude Mechs, the Vortex, Paper Chairs and Teatro Vivo. Some of favorite recent performances include Am I White ( by Adrienne Dawes), The Panza Monologues ( by Virginia Grise), Bright Now Beyond ( By Daniel Alexander Jones and Bobby Halverson) and Fixing King John ( adapted by Kirk Lynn). As a writer and poet, Florinda enjoys engaging audiences in explorations around identity, body and community. Her award winning one-woman show Half-Breed Southern Fried was produced as part of the Performing Blackness Series at UT and was directed by Laurie Carlos. As a facilitator and arts educator, Florinda has worked with at risk communities, young men and women, and adults—using performance as a social justice tool for empowerment and change for over 18 years. Florinda is also the Operations Manager of Creative Action, one of the nation’s leading arts education organizations. A member of the Austin Project, sponsored by the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, UT at Austin. Florinda is also a 2013 Woman of the Year for Racial Justice award recipient from the YWCA.

Here are some takeaways and information to explore based on the night's conversation and the panelists' recommendations:

1.) At the start of the talk, we asked attendees to discuss their personal definitions of the term "professional artist." What sort of constructions do we create around this word?

2.) Once the panelists joined us onstage, they began to explore their approaches to creative work and the projects they're currently working on. Xochi Solis is making new bodies of work for commercial clients and her gallery Uprise NYC, Florinda Bryant is currently producing con flama, a show for the community-oriented Salvage Vanguard Theater and her operations position at Creative Action, Alie Jackson is working on commercial work through her studio and installations for her residency with #bbatx.

"the way my art works means a lot of times i’m one of the people who is creating the space for the art work to live. Creating the community. You have to have your tribe so you can have room to figure out what it means to love yourself." -Florinda Bryant @salvagevanguard

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

3.) Our panelists then discussed the "starving artist" trope and how this often can keep artists from diversifying their incomes and fully sustaining their work. In the case of our speakers, each panelist has rallied to find sustainable paths within their work and interests (even if this means producing work outside of their personal pursuits).

“I think there is this stigma that you have to fit the mold of a starving artist. Yes, struggle can push you but if you want to work a 9-5 and pursue your art, you can do that too if that works best for you.” - Alie Jackson

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

"The last year and a half has been me learning to trust my path, my intuition and recognizing (and being ok with) the privilege I have to create. These opportunities have come because of the sacrifices my abuela and family have made for me to be here." - Xochi Solis

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

"as a creative i’ve gotten to my positions by pushing myself passed those boundaries I created for myself. Letting those go can lead you to great places that others may not have thought of." - Jacqueline Gilles, Creative / Culture Manager for @thelinehotel ATX

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

4.) The panel then revisited the term "professional artist" and what that mindset shift from hobbyist to full-time artist looked like for them.

"I’ve been a professional artist and considered myself as one since I started, but there are definitely little moments that make you feel like an artist. Airports always make you feel that way, like 'YES! I. AM. Going places!!'" - Florinda Bryant @salvagevanguard pic.twitter.com/CcQBjWLv3U

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

5.) To close, we shared financial and professional tips and resources. A few of the panelists' recommendations are listed below (if you'd like #bbatx's Official Artist Resource Guide, which was sent as accompanying material for the context of this session, please email thebabes@bossbabes.org):

• If you're just getting started and want to look into local funding, exploring the City of Austin's Creative BizAid program and PeopleFund.
• For continuing artistic professional development, Xochi Solis recommends Creative Capital.
• Each panelist spoke to the importance of investing in your own wellness and your financial security. Finding a CPA to show you how to do your taxes, understanding your expenses and relying on a peer support system are important aspects of ensuring your sustainability (and health) as an artist.

"I’ve been a professional artist and considered myself as one since I started, but there are definitely little moments that make you feel like an artist. Airports always make you feel that way, like 'YES! I. AM. Going places!!'" -  Florinda Bryant @salvagevanguard pic.twitter.com/CcQBjWLv3U

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 28, 2018

You can keep up with the work of our panelists and moderator below:

• Alie Jackson (panelist)
  • Social media - @shuttastunna
  • Website - aliejackson.com
  • Upcoming work - Alie just debuted a VR installation at #bbatx's Power to the People: Session I.
• Florinda Bryant (panelist)
  • Social media - @salvagevanguard
  • Website - salvagevanguard.org
  • Upcoming work - Florinda's co-producing and directing con flama, a work by poet Sharon Bridgforth, at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre. The first show opens on March 15 and runs through March 31. Click here to get tickets.
• Xochi Solis (panelist)
  • Social media - @xochisolis
  • Website - xochisolis.com
  • Upcoming work - Xochi is currently working on new work and can be found organizing events for the Austin chapter of Chulita Vinyl Club, as well as programming events for #bbatx.
• Jacqueline Gilles (moderator)
  • Social media - @thelinehotel
  • Website - thelinehotel.com
  • Upcoming work - The LINE Hotel has partnered with Big Medium to produce an arts residency. The residency will begin taking applications within the upcoming week. Apply at Big Medium once the details are released.

Interested in attending another SHE TALKS? Stay tuned by checking back at our events calendar.

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Meet the Producers, Partners and Venue
 

About #bossbabesATX: #bossbabesATX (#bbatx) is an online and offline space for women-identifying and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and community organizers. Through our event series, showcases, strategic collaborations and professional development programs, we build educated, empowered and more equal creative communities. Within the last year, we've provided a platform of visibility, outreach and financial opportunity to 900+ Texas-based women artists and women-owned businesses and nonprofits. Learn more at bossbabes.org

Our events prioritize the voices of self-identifying women and nonbinary folks. We are not gender-discriminant; all are welcome to attend. This production has been made possible in part by presenting partners the LINE ATX and Resplendent Hospitality.

She Talks: Dating in the Modern World

On Feb. 12 at REVELRY, we hosted SHE TALKS: Dating in the Modern World, a practical discussion about relationships, being single and navigating gender expectations in the digital age. With complimentary beverages by Argus Cidery, this panel featured four panelists, a pop-up coloring station featuring illustrations by Mean Thing Kate and an introductory monologue by performer and author, Aralyn Hughes.

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The FEATURED ARTISTS

Aralyn Hughes (performer, writer, Queen of Keep Austin Weird)
For over 33 years, Aralyn Hughes has been an Austin icon sharing her own brand of weird, as reported by Bill Geist of CBS Morning News when he crowned her the “Queen of Weird”. Aralyn has appeared as an ambassador for Austin on HGTV, Discovery Channel, both national and local CBS networks, various radio stations, and local Austin venues including Zachary Scott Theater. She was the co-author of In the West, one of the longest running monologue theatre shows in Austin, which also graced the Kennedy Center and was later adapted into the movie Deep in the Heart. At 65, Aralyn became a performance artist, storyteller and non fiction monologist. She's also a subject of a documentary, Love in the Sixties, which is a story of one small town woman from Oklahoma, who came of age in the 60s, taking on serious baby boomer questions about love, sex and death. Her first book, an anthology about child-free women who came of age in the 1960s, Kid Me Not, was also recently published in three languages. Kid Me Not is a provocative and controversial collection of essays, edited by Aralyn Hughes, where fifteen mostly Austin writers explain they they chose to eschew motherhood and often marriage. They are women of the 60s, now in their 60s—the first generation of women to really have a choice due to the advent of birth control pills in 1963.  Contributors give a unique perspective on the overwhelming cultural pressure to marry and have have children, and explore why it's not the only path to a happy, productive life.  Her book is currently featured in the Austin History Center and is available at the public library. Hughes will perform a monologue based on this book and will have a couple of copies available for public purchase.

Kate Holley (@meanthingkate, illustrator)
Kate Holley is a freelance illustrator in Austin, Texas, and she goes by Mean Thing Kate. She designs posters for Cheer Up Charlies and has had work featured on Bustle.com and in Peach Fuzz Magazine. "People don't usually like to hear females—they're the ones with the boob-nipples and the pink vagina bones—talk about certain subjects, so I make it a point to draw all the stuff that might make those people feel icky on the inside." - Kate Holley

Pictured: Illustrations by Mean Thing Kate

Pictured: Aralyn Hughes

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The Panel

Featuring four multi-hyphenate professionals, in conversation with #bbatx Project and Ops Lead Maureen Nicol.

Meet our panelists and moderator below:

Nikki DaVaughn (panelist)
Nikki is a writer, coproducer of The Midnight Menagerie, the founder of Fat Bottom Cabaret, performer, emcee, body positivity activist, storyteller and all-around shenanigan starter. She spends her time in Austin drinking, dating poorly and telling stories about what its like being fat and black in Texas.

Bernadette Chavez Piñon (panelist)
Bernadette is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S) working with adults (18+) in Austin, Texas, who provides therapy and other resources to help individuals overcome stress, live mindfully, and cultivate the life and the relationships they want. Her personal mission is to empower and encourage individuals to navigate through changes and transitions in life genuinely, authentically, and with respect to their values and identities. On this panel, she'll share tips, recommendations and observations about pursuing meaningful relationships (should you choose) and maintaining a healthy relationship to self-love.

Melissa Hobley, CMO at OKCupid (panelist)
Previously Melissa was VP at Walgreens Boots Alliance where she was responsible for changing the way women engage with beauty brands. Prior to working in beauty, she was the head of marketing for Buyology, a company that incorporated the latest discoveries in behavioral economics and applied it to marketing and innovation. Melissa started her career in PR in New York City. She is a native of Muncie, IN. She lives in downtown New York City with her husband and daughter Madeline. Melissa sits on the board of Live4Lali and Shatterproof, non-profits both dedicated to addressing the opioid epidemic. She now uses this background to run things at OKCupid; she'll talk about OKC has learned about relationships through user behavior and how much digital has impacted dating in the last few years.

Maureen Nicol, Projects and Ops Lead at #bbatx (moderator)
Maureen is #bossbabesATX's Project and Operations Lead. She assists #bbatx with running as smoothly as possibly by managing the team, social media accounts, general inquiries and community news. Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Maureen has lived all over. Maureen moved to Austin for school and is pursuing her PhD in Early Childhood Education at UT Austin. She also runs an annual pop-up art camp for children, Camp Story.

Here are some takeaways and information to explore based on the night's conversation and the panelists' recommendations:

1.) During Aralyn Hughe's introductory monologue, she tackled what it was like dating in the sixties and why she has chosen to remain single now that she is in her sixties. She humorously approached the themes explored in her latest book, Kid Me Not, a compilation of essays from women who decided not to have children.

"Really what I came here tonight to tell you is that I have fallen in love. I have fallen in love with being single." - @aralyn pic.twitter.com/nAQm0cY7vp

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

2.) Once the panelists joined us onstage, they began to explore our individual agency (i.e. one's ability to make his/her/their own decisions) to be single, take a partner, or engage in multiple relationships. 

Taking the stage now: Our lovely panelists @kisheamac, Bernadette Chavez-Piñon, and all the way from New York @MelissaHobleyNY, the CMO at @okcupid pic.twitter.com/X9WSkmvlm7

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

In response to how do you define agency: "I come back to taking care of myself....My agency right now is exploring and giving myself permission to enjoy it and be mindful of that process." - Bernadette Chavez-Piñon

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

"More people are bringing their whole selves to the dating game and not trying to compromise who they are." - Maureen Nicol, project and ops lead at BossbabesATX

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

3.) Our panelists then discussed the difficulty in dating—be that managing anxiety around relationships, feeling insecure, or simply dealing with rejection.

"I try not to do that thing where you're a sparkly version of yourself....I try and make sure that I am as true as I comfortably can be" - @kisheamac

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

In response to what resources are available to the anxiety that comes with dating: "Let's not squash that anxiety down. Let's give permission to feel that thing: anxiety, fear, excitement....have that curiosity to explore." - Bernadette Chavez-Piñon

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

"Know what you want. It's amazing what happens when you meet someone and it's right or not right and you know your boundaries." - @MelissaHobleyNY

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

4.) To close the discussion, the panelists shared their personal approaches to navigating abusive behaviors in dating, especially the "disposal" culture that has manifesting around relationships that start online. Here are a few of those takeaways:

• Melissa (CMO of OKCupid) stressed to intentionally use dating apps and to be aware and/or shut things down when someone is not using an app to intentionally communicate with you.
• How do we deal with the frustrations of trying to date other people, when apps have made it so easy to ghost? Nikki shared that she has actually chosen not to use dating apps anymore, and she added that everyone should try their own medium and remember that although Austin feels small, there are many people who live here (and many more partners in the fish bowl).
• In response to an audience question, the panelists tackled "gaslighting" in relationships and how to better recognize abusive behaviors. They settled on a few things: arguments that rapidly escalate, being accused of things that are false (like raising your voice when you're talking calmly and/or flirting with someone when you weren't, etc.), forcing a conversation or action when one side has clearly demonstrated they're uncomfortable and/or need a minute to think, etc. The panelists agreed that these behaviors can be red flags and that we should all be aware when we do them to others, too.

"It makes you question your sanity. They give you the sign and then they say, 'where did you get that from??' A lot of people use gaslighting as a way to exit. They pick a fight but all they wanted to do was break-up." - @kisheamac

— #BBATX (@bossbabesatx) February 13, 2018

Interested in attending a SHE TALKS? We've got another one on Feb. 27 exploring art, money and mindset.

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Meet the Producers, Partners and Venue
 

About #bossbabesATX: We exist to build educated and empowered creative communities at the intersections of sisterhood and space. Through event series, showcases and personal/professional development programs, we amplify and connect women-identifying artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Since we've been in operation, we've provided a platform of visibility, outreach and financial opportunity to 300+ Texas-based women artists, 400+ women-owned businesses and women activists. We were named "Best Bossy Babes" of 2015 by The Austin Chronicle and we were selected by The White House to attend the United State of Women Summit in June 2016.

Our events prioritize the voices of self-identifying women and nonbinary folks. We are not gender-discriminant; all are welcome to attend. This production has been made possible in part our collaborators at OKCupid and by presenting partners the LINE ATX and Resplendent Hospitality.

About the space, REVELRY: REVELRY celebrates community and creativity through a variety of gatherings. From events, pop-ups and markets like The Swoon Event to dinner parties and creative workshops, REVELRY's mission is to craft experiences and bring people together. 

Our First Event of 2018: #WORK, A Pop-Up Conference for Creatives and Entrepreneurs

Photo by 1778 Photographie

Presented by #bossbabesATX, powered by Texas MSTC and produced by women for women in collaboration with Women Who Code: Austin, the inaugural iteration of #WORK was hosted on Jan. 20, 2018 at The Refinery in Austin, Texas.

Did you miss out on #WORK? Download the Winter '18' #WORKbook. This guide contains a full overview of the conference, plus additional resources, tips and suggestions for creatives and entrepreneurs.

You can also sign up for updates on the next conference.